These pictures were taken in 1979 and 1982 during my days as an astronomer. There are several observatories in Chile, where the conditions are particularly good for observing, hence my two visits to the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory.
The observatory is situated some 480km north of Santiago, and 80km inland from La Serena, at an altitude of 2200 metres.
Several species of cacti grew on the hillsides below the observatory, and I was able to find plants of Eulychnia, Eriosyce, and Neoporteria.
Click on the thumbnails for a larger picture.
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Eulychnia species, probably E. spinibarbis or E. breviflora. About 3 metres tall. There is a 30cm ruler at the base of the plant for scale. |
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Detail of the strong spines of the Eulychnia. You might be able to make out the first signs of flower buds developing on some of the areoles, just above the spine clusters. There is a 5cm lens cap for scale. |
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The mountainside, showing several of the Eulychnia plants. |
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A young Eriosyce plant, approximately 9cm in diameter. |
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A plant of Neoporteria, approximately 20cm in diameter. |